File Photo: Tobi Amusan.

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World record holder Tobi Amusan said she carried the weight of Nigeria on her shoulders as she raced to the silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles final at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships on Monday, The PUNCH reports.

Amusan clocked 12.29s to finish behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who set a national record of 12.24s to claim gold, while America’s Grace Stark took bronze in 12.34s.

The Nigerian, who won gold in Eugene in 2022, acknowledged the enormous pressure of national expectation but said her mission extended beyond personal glory.

“I put the whole country on my back, but this is bigger than me.

It’s a mission first for Nigeria and for the world, but I also do it for myself.

“I’m just glad that every time I come out to a championship, win or lose, I still show up and I’m thankful for that.”

She also explained that the disappointment of finishing fourth when the Olympics last held in Tokyo four years ago remained a heavy burden on her mind until today’s final.

“I remember in 2021 I came here and I came fourth,” Amusan said in her post-race interview with Making of Champs.

“The moment I heard the World Championship was going to be held here, I had a PTSD, but then I had to snap out of it and I told myself I’m not leaving here without the gold medal.

I don’t know but I’ll take the silver.”

Amusan described the last few years as a rough journey where setbacks had outweighed victories, but she credited her support system for keeping her grounded.

“I’ve taken more losses than wins and I’m just thankful that I have a great support system, my coach, my family, my mentors, my loved ones, my fans.

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“This is for everyone who supported me. I’m just out here, going to training, competing, and this is for them.”

The 28-year-old emphasised how tough it was to medal in such a competitive line-up, saying she leaned on her faith for strength.

“It’s really tough. Look at the kind of line-up we had in the women’s hurdles, it’s anybody’s race.

“I kept saying to myself yesterday it’s not of the swift, but of God to show mercy, and I kept asking for mercy all day because I worked really hard and I deserved this.

I’m just thankful that I didn’t leave here with no medal again this year.”

Reflecting on her silver-winning time, Amusan said she had anticipated a strong showing after her season’s best earlier in the year.

“Trust me, I knew it was coming. Running 12.29s for silver, we’ll take it. It could be better, but we’ll take it,” she said.

The hurdler, who debuted a new shaved look this season, explained the decision was born more of practicality than symbolism.

“I was just tired of wearing my hair,” she said.

“I train Monday through Saturday and there’s no time to rest.

On days when I have to rest, you think I’ll sit at the salon?

I just woke up one day tired of going back and forth to the salon, so I chopped it off. Now no stress, no drama.”

Amusan’s silver medal adds to Nigeria’s tally at the World Championships, making it the nation’s 12th medal in the competition’s history.